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BBC and Steven Moffat have made it official: The Doctor will have a new companion in the next season of Doctor Who. And that actor has a name: Jenna Louise Coleman!

At 25, Coleman’s previous credits include Emmerdale, Captain America: The First Avenger, and the forthcoming Julian Fellowess Titanic mini-series. According to Moffat, Amy and Rory will stop appearing on the show after the fifth episode of the new series.

Of Coleman, Moffat had this to say:

“It always seems impossible when you start casting these parts, but when we saw Matt and Jenna together, we knew we had our girl. She’s funny and clever and exactly mad enough to step on board the TARDIS.

It’s not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it’s about to happen. Jenna is going to lead him his merriest dance yet. And that’s all you’re getting for now. Who she’s playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters. Even by the Doctor’s standards, this isn’t your usual boy meets girl.”

Coleman hasn’t started filming yet and released this statement:

“I’m beyond excited, I can’t wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure.”

SPOILERS AHEAD. Seriously, don’t even look below this.

No word yet on the character’s name, but Moffat also informed the crowd at the press launch that the next season of Doctor Who will air its first five episodes in fall of 2012 before taking a break. The couple’s departure comes in the fifth episode:

“Amy and Rory will leave in a final encounter with the Weeping Angels in episode 5. Not everyone gets out alive and I mean it this time.”

This will be followed by the Christmas episode and Jenna Louise Coleman’s debut. From Moffat:

“Who she’s playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters. Even by the Doctor’s standards, this isn’t your usual boy meets girl.”

The Christmas special will be followed by the remaining eight episodes of season seven in 2013. Other tidbits include:

Season seven is all standalone episodes, although there is an overall arc.

Lots of news monsters. [Edit: Yeah, we made a typo. But it’s too hilarious to fix so we’re leaving it. News monster!)

We will see Daleks again. Soon.

And River Song, for that matter. (This was not confirmed at the press launch but has been hinted by Moffat previously.)

And the Doctor Who speculation train is off once again! It’s been a while!

Stubby the Rocket is the mascot of Tor.com and is also looking for a new companion. Must be clean, well-adjusted, and fine with flying too close to black holes.